Psychologist Stoyan Petrov: Eating experiments in schoolchildren can lead to anorexia

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Psychologist Stoyan Petrov: Eating experiments in schoolchildren can lead to anorexia
Psychologist Stoyan Petrov: Eating experiments in schoolchildren can lead to anorexia
Anonim

Eating disorders in adolescents are highly stressful and can harm their overall development. And combined with emerging he alth problems, they can even lead to life-threatening risks for them.

This is what the psychologist Stoyan Petrov, dealing with therapy for eating disorders, said in an interview for "Doctor". It gives specific guidelines and recommendations to parents in this regard.

Mr. Petrov, in one post you state that most adolescent eating disorders begin in the teenage years. Why?

- Because adolescence is the period of the complex transition age, associated with various inherently contradictory experiences - biological, emotional, cognitive. A radical change occurs in their consciousness, thinking and behavior. In this age period, the attention of young people is directed towards understanding moral values, they form the first stable attitudes and build certain stereotypes of behavior.

Some young people endure these periods in their development relatively easily, but others go through the difficult path of age-specific crises. The transition to emotional maturity, combined with already accumulated experience, push the young person to strive to look up-to-date and modern in the surrounding environment.

One of the crises at this age is related to appearance, and this topic is particularly delicate, since even an offensive qualification in this direction greatly upsets teenagers, and for a large part of them, this is where the problem of eating disorders arises.

What is characteristic of adolescent eating disorders?

- Eating disorders in adolescents are highly stressful and can harm their overall development. The social effects of these include low self-esteem and isolation. And in combination with the he alth problems that have arisen, not controlled in a timely manner, they can lead to life-threatening risks.

It is typical for them at this stage of their age development to pursue an active change both in vision, music styles, etc., and in nutrition. Some teenagers experiment with a different style of eating, for example vegetarianism or veganism. They undergo diets to reduce weight and often skip meals.

This is all normal if it passes quickly as a trend in their youth journey.

Therefore, parents should be very observant regarding their children's eating behavior. Eating experiments can turn from an inappropriate diet into an eating disorder. Eating disorders are not always obvious by external signs and indicators. Adolescents are very diligent in concealing them

In my experience as an eating disorder psychologist, I have come across Oscar-worthy scenarios created in the minds of sufferers in their efforts to hide them from family and friends.

Are there early signs of eating disorders in teenagers that can and should alert parents?

- Early symptoms can be recognized in a child when he has abruptly changed his lifestyle. For example, if he was overweight, he suddenly changed his attitude towards food, which became a fixed idea. At first, it seems normal for parents to want their children to lose weight in order to look good.

They are even encouraged by them, until the moment comes when the parents themselves notice atypical habits, strange rituals, comments, new interests in a certain food group and stigmatization of everything harmful. It is desirable to observe the child for a similar manner to eating and food. If you notice that the way he eats affects his mood and energy, it's probably the beginning of an eating disorder.

Another guideline is the alternation of overeating with lack of appetite, accompanied by excessive indulgence in food regimes (dieting), counting calories, purging rituals after meals (vomiting), exhausting training and movement.

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Stoyan Petrov

Also, if you notice your child looking in the mirror and focusing on body imperfections, it's the right time to have a conversation about it. Refusal to eat in front of other family members is also a worrying indicator.

Avoiding social gatherings where food is consumed is the next recognizable symptom of an eating disorder. Last but not least, a change in clothing (wearing baggy clothes that cover the body so as not to show one's curves) is also a common telltale sign of an eating and body image problem.

What mistakes do parents of children with eating disorders make?

- I am going to introduce you to some of the most common behavioral mistakes of parents of children with eating disorders. Keep in mind that such a child is quite sensitive and inquisitive. Therefore, it is not appropriate to monitor him under a magnifying glass, what and how much he ate, what is the rule after he has eaten. All this encourages children to lie.

Yes, your kids are lying and you should know that. One of the gross parental mistakes is to blame the child for having led to this state and that it cannot continue like this. Encouragement to show will, to get in one's hands because it is so bad, are ineffective coping strategies for an eating disorder. The child should not hear and see the powerlessness of the parents, hinting to him: "Are you thinking about me? Think about me too!". This only worsens the children's condition by increasing their feelings of guilt and powerlessness.

Next, it is appropriate to point out that it is not right for parents to discuss with other people the problem of the child in his presence, as well as at this time to surround him with unnecessary suggestions and bribes to start or stop eating Remember that the child's personal space is inviolable and you should respect and honor it. Never belittle the child's problems and experiences. If he trusts and is willing to share, be sure to listen to him. Support him and show him you love him.

Don't be critical and offensive, don't try to compare him with brothers, sisters, friends or the neighbor's child. For some children, even the mention of the subject in the form of a joke by the parents leaves a mark on their psyche. The child's appearance and the way he eats are the topics that you should never touch on him.

Remember that a lack of self-esteem and self-confidence reinforces the feeling of unattractiveness in the child, which is the cause of the appearance of an eating disorder. There is nothing more dangerous and traumatic than a child feeling rejected, humiliated, mocked or guilty in a family environment. Everyone has their own individuality. The body and its appearance must be respected. And last but not least, remember that teenagers have a natural need for rebellion, by which they distance themselves from parental influence in order to reinvent themselves.

What should a parent do if their child has developed an eating disorder?

- Every parent knows their child to a great extent, and the more observant of them are the first to discover that something atypical is happening. If you have even the slightest suspicion that your child has an eating disorder and/or his condition is getting worse, you need to be extremely careful with him. First of all, it is important to surround him with love, care and support. Let him feel that he is not alone, that his parents are with him. This is a surefire way to show him that you'll make it together.

In these situations, it is permissible to express your concerns to the child, but in a very subtle tone and without a drop of accusation. Don't expect to get understanding or a quick change in his behavior as you wish. You can try very delicately to find out if there is a specific reason why he is having these experiences. Children sense whether their parents are willing to help them.

It is appropriate to reach an agreement through conversations and seek help from a psychologist, psychotherapist or psychiatrist together. It is important to explain to him that it is from these specialists that he will receive guidance and professional support, with which he can go more painlessly through the condition he is in.

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